Exposure control system which eliminates double exposures in a multiple image camera

ABSTRACT

A camera exposure control system for sequentially exposing first and second areas of a photosensitive medium positioned within the imaging plane of a multiple image camera. The exposure control system disclosed herein enables the simultaneous exposure of a plurality of areas of photosensitive film or in an alternate mode of operation utilizes means for sequentially shifting the position of a movable masking member to alternately cover a first lens system upon the actuation of a shutter and thereafter for covering a second lens system upon a second actuation of the shutter. The alternate movement back and forth of the masking member to alternately cover the first and second lens systems is automatic so that inadvertent double exposure of one area of the film is automatically prevented.

United States Patent Macone et al.

[ 1 Aug. 29, 1972 [54] EXPOSURE CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH ELIMINATES DOUBLEEXPOSURES IN A MULTIPLE IMAGE CAMERA [72] Inventors: Fredrick W. Macone,Carlisle; Normand J. La Fortune, Dracut, both 0 Mass.

. [73] Assignee: Avant Incorporated, Lincoln, Mass.

[22] Filed: May 5, I970 [211' Appl.No.: 34,649

521 vs. c1. ..95/36 R 51 Int. Cl. ..G03b 19/02 [58] Field of Search..95/1 .1, 36

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,345,924 10/1967 Kitrosser..95/1.1 3,540,362 11/1970 Macone ...95/36 3,182,400 5/1965 Nyc ..95/36x 3,443,499 5/1969 Gianino ..95/36 X 3,504,607 4/1970 Bok ..95/36XPrimary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-M0nroe H. HayesAtt0rriey Robert L. Nathans [57] ABSTRACT A camera exposure controlsystem for sequentially ex posing first and second areas of aphotosensitive medium positioned within the imaging plane of a multipleimage camera. The exposure control system disclosed herein enables thesimultaneous exposure of a plurality of areas of photosensitive film orin an alternate mode of operation utilizes means for sequentiallyshifting the position of a movable masking member to alternately coverafust lens system upon the actuation of a shutter and thereafter forcovering a second lens system upon a second actuation of the shutter.The alternate movement back and forth of the masking member toalternately cover the first and second lens systems is automatic so thatinadvertent double expo sure of one area of the film isautomatically'prevented.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented Aug. 29, :1972 I Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 1v F 6. 2. FEEDER/CK n4 MACO/VE NORMA/VD LAFOFPTU/VE INVENTORS BY WimATTORNEY Patented Aug. 29, 1972 2 Sheets-Shet a FREDERICK W MACO/VENORMA/VD LAFORTUNE INVENTORQ ATTORNEY EXPOSURE CONTROL SYSTEM WHICHELIMINATES DOUBLE EXPOSURES IN A MULTIPLE IMAGE CAMERA BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION taneously photographing four images of a given subject uponphotographic film. This type of a camera'is utilized for making I.D.cards, credit cards, or badges. In US. Pat. No. 3,345,924 of S.Kitrosser, assigned to the same assignee as the present invention, afirst lens system, preferably utilizing twin lenses, is utilized tophotograph an image of a subject seated before the camera and forsimultaneously photographing a data card so that a compositephotographic image is photographed on one area of the film. In one modeof operation, the first lens system photographs the image of a firstdata card and simultaneously photographs 'an image of a first subject toform the composite I.D. card image on a first half of the film. A secondsubject, together with his associated data card which differs from thefirst data card, is simultaneously photographed on the remaining secondarea of the film. This may be designated asthe altemate mode ofoperation. It is often desirable, however, to simultaneously project twocomposite images on both areas of the'film where a duplicate is to beretained. This mode of operation may be termed the simultaneous rnode.

In the first mentioned patent (3,128,685), four images of a subject areusually simultaneously photographed upon four subareas of the film.However, it may be desirable to reserve two quadrants of the film for afirst subject and the remaining two quadrants of the film for a secondsubject as in the case of the aforementioned Pat. No. 3,345,924. Theexposure control system of the present invention may be utilized in bothtypes of cameras where the alternate mode of operation is desirable. Inthe past, the operator manually shifted a movable masking member tofirst cover one set of lenses during a first actuation of the shutterand thereafter manually shifted the movable masking member to cover asecond set of lenses before the second actuation of the shutter. If theoperator forgot to actuate the movable masking member between the firstand second shutter actuations, a double exposure would result. Suchdouble exposure presents a serious problem, because two'subjects beingphotographed in the alternate mode would have to be recalled back to thearea where the camera is situated. Such action is inconvenient andwasteful of time, money, and film. In the case of a busy businessmanwho, for example, would have to be recalled to a bank issuing a creditcard for his account, such recall could result in the loss of creditcard business.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, an exposure control system alternately causesfirst and second lens systems to be covered by a movable masking memberupon each actuation of the shutter, so that a first area of the film isexposed upon the first actuation of the shutter and a second area of thefilm is thereafter automatically exposed upon the second actuation ofthe shutter. A novel movable masking member positioning means includinga cam and cam follower, is driven by a shutter actuating means, so thatupon each actuation of the shutter, the movable masking member isalternately shifted in position. Means are provided for operating theexposure control system in the simultaneous mode rather than thealternate modezand consists of an arrangement for moving the maskingmember to a position whereby the member does not cover any of the lensesupon a .single or multiple actuation of the shutter.

Other objects, features, and advantages .of the present inventionwillbecome apparent upon the inspection of the following specificdescription taken first lens system;

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRE EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1,a first lens system comprising lenses 1 and 2 is disclosed together witha second lens system comprising lenses 3 and 4. These lenses arepositioned within lens barrels not shown, each of which is. fitted intolens board 6. The lens board could merely consist of apertures and thelens could be located at another portion of the camera if desired. Inthe interest of clarity, all portions of the camera are not shown, butall elements essential to the invention have been included. For furtherdetails, reference may be made to the'aforesaid US. Pat. No. 3,345,924,in which lens 17a corresponds to lens 4, lens 16a corresponds to lens 3,lens 16b corresponds to lens 1, and lens 17b corresponds to lens 2.Lenses 1 and 3 focus an image of a data bearing card inserted into thecamera upon the imaging plane within film pack 7, while lenses 2 and 4focus an image of an individual seated before the camera upon theimaging plane. Shutter 8 is actuated by the operator pushing on knob 9fixed to an elongated rod 11 which in turn is coupled to a shutteractuating lever 12 via pin 13. This structure comprises the shutteractuating means of the present invention. Movable masking member 14 iscoupled to a rotatable rod 16 which is actuated by the operator by meansof knob 17. lWhen it is desirable to simultaneously photograph twocomposite images, each of which includes a photograph of a subject and aphotograph of the data card, knob 17 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1which positions movable masking member 14 at a position wherein it doesnot cover any of the lenses. An-elongated cam follower 18 is alsocoupled to rod 16 and is spring biased by biasing means 19 in theposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Cam follower biasing means 19 insion sothat a biasing force is applied along the longitudinal axis of threadedshaft 20 which locks the cam follower ina position wherein it does notcoact with cam 28. A locking nut 29 is positioned against adjusting nut27 after the desired degree of compression is induced into spring 24.

Shutter actuating rod 11 is coupled to cam driver element 31 by means ofcoupling member 32. Cam driver 31 is pivotably coupled to member 32bypin-33. Aset screw 34 passes through a threaded hole at the upperportion of element 32 and bears against a flattened portion 36 of rod11. Downward motion of cam driver 31 is inhibited by pin 37.Longitudinal positioning of the cam driver is thus effected by looseningset screw 34 and moving element 32 with respect to shutter actuating rod11. Actuation of rod 11 to the right causes one of the teeth 39 or 40 torotate cam 28 through a 45 angle. This is effected by the pushing actionof one of the teeth against one of the elongated pins 41, 42, 43, or 44.In the aforesaid simultaneous mode of operation, cam follower 18 ispositioned as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is. unaffected by the rotationof cam 28 which is caused by successive actuations of the shutter bylongitudinal movement of rod 11 and cam driver 31. Movable maskingmember 14 in the simultaneous mode is thus positioned as shown duringsuccessive shutter actuations and is not moved. It should now beapparent that the entire area of the film is exposed in the simultaneousmode upon each actuation of the shutter and a duplicate composite ID.card image is photographed. The film obviously is removed after eachactuation of the shutter in the simultaneous mode.

Let it now be assumed that the operator desires the reaction forceapplied by pin 43 against the cam follower 18 is such that the device islocked in the position shown in FIG. 4. The angular relationship of theworking surface of cam follower 18 with respect to pin 43 preventscounter clockwise rotation of cam 28. In this position, the pointer ofknob 17 is adjacent the high indicia 47. Rod 11 is displaced to the leftby the spring in the shutter cock and the stage is set for the exposureof the remaining unexposed portion of the film. Another subject isseated before the camera and the first subjects data card is removedwhile the second subject's data card is inserted into the camera. Theoperator pushes against knob 9 and tooth 39 rather than tooth 40 "causesa second 45 rotation of cam 28. At the commencement of this rotation,cam driver 18 is moved clockwise until pin 43 clears the working surfaceof the cam follower. Just after this occurs, biasing means 19 abruptlydrives cam driver 18 and masking member 14 in a counter clockwisedirection and the lower lens system is covered by the masking member. Atthis time, the shutter is again actuated to cause light to pass throughthe upper lens system to photograph the second composite image upon thefilmfThe system now again assumes the position shown in FIG. 3. The

' fully exposed film is now-removed from the camera and camera tooperate in the aforesaid alternate mode of operation which produces twocomposite images on the film of two different subjects, each of whichhas an individual data card.

When the operator switches into the alternate mode of operation, herotates knob 17 so that the point of the knob is opposite indicia 51labeled low. This causes movable masking member 14 to assume the lowposition which covers the aforesaid first lens system as shown in FIG.3. Cam follower 18 is forced against pin 43 by the biasing means 19which assumes the position shown in FIG. 3 owing to its pivotablerelationship with rotatable post 21 and cam follower 18. As the operatorcommences to move shutter actuating rod 11 to the right, tooth 40 pushespin 41 which in turn causes counter clockwise rotation of cam follower18 due to actuation of pin 43 in turn caused by rotation of cam 28. Thiscauses the movable masking member to cover the upper or second lenssystem. After the second lens system is fully covered by masking member14, the shutter opens and light passes through the lower or first lenssystem to expose half of the film. At this point, the system assumes theposition shown in FIG. 4 and the the stage is set for another cycle. Theforegoing procedure might bereversed if cam 28 happens to be in theposition shown in- FIG. 4 at the .time the operator switches intothealternate mode. In this case, the

second lens system will be uncovered before the first because theoperator need not remember to shift the masking member before anotherpicture is taken.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in .the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practices otherwise than as specifically described.

We claim:

1. In a camera exposure control system for sequentially exposing firstand second areas of a photsensitive medium, a system which eliminatesdouble exposure thereof comprising;

a. an imaging platen;

b. a first lens system for exposing a first area of said photosensitivemedium;

c. a second lens system separate from said first lens system forexposing a second area of said photosensitive medium;

d. an elongated, noncircular movable masking member for covering saidfirst lens system in a first lens covering position and said second lenssystem in a second lens covering position;

e. shutter means coacting with said first and second lens systems forexposing said photosensitive medium;

f. shutter actuating means for actuating said shutter means;

g. masking member positioning means for positioning said masking memberin lens covering positions remote from said imaging platen and beingcoupled to said shutter actuating means for shifting the position ofsaid movable masking member from one lens system to another lens systemupon the actuation of said shutter actuating means to prevent doubleexposure of exposed areas of said photosensitive medium;

h. means for supporting said masking member positioning means at alocation upon said camera posi- 1 tion remotely from said first andsecond lens systems to provide for easy access to said masking memberpositioning means; I g

i. said masking member positioning means further including a camfollower coupled to said movable masking member, a cam for actuatingsaid cam follower and a cam driver coupled to said shutter actuatingmeans for actuating said cam upon actuation of said shutter actuatingmeans; and

j. means for mechanically biasing said cam follower against said cam,said cam further comprising a plurality of elongated members separatedfrom each other which are positioned transversely to the direction ofmotion of said cam and which drive said masking member via said cam*follower between said first and second lens covering positions upon theactuation of said shutter actuating means.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam driverincludes an elongated member having a plurality of teeth thereon whichdrive said elongated members and hencesaid'cam through a given angleeach time said shutter actuating means is actuated.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 further including means forpositioning said movable masking member in non-coacting relation withboth of said lens systems and for decoupling said masking memberpositioning means from said shutter actuating means.

4. In a camera exposure control system for sequentially exposing firstand second area of a photosensitive medium, a system which eliminatesdouble exposures thereof comprising:

a camera frame;

a first lens system for exposing a first area of said photosensitivemedium;

a second lens system for exposing a second area of said photosensitivemedium;

a shutter device coacting with said-first and second lens systems forexposing said photosensitive medishutter actuating means for actuatingsaid shutter;

a movable masking member for selectively covering one of said lenssystems at a time; a cam, a cam follower, means for coupling saidmovable masking member to said cam follower; l

biasing means for mechanically biasing 'said cam follower against saidcam, first coupling means for pivotally coupling one end of said biasingmeans to said camera and second coupling means for pivotally couplingthe other end of said biasing means to said cam follower; and

a cam driver for rotating said cam upon the actuatio of said shutteractuating means. 5. The combination'as se forth In claim 4 furtherincluding means for adjusting the position of said cam driver withrespect to said shutter actuating means coupled thereto.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means forcoupling said movable masking member to said cam follower includes arotatable shaft having a positioning knob coupled thereto forfacilitating the manual positioning of said movable masking member.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first couplingmeans comprises a post rotatably mounted to said camera frame, said posthaving a hole therein for slideably accommodating one end of saidbiasing means to enable said biasing means to shift its position withrespect to said post as said cam follower shifts its position.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam driverincludes a toothed member pivotably coupled to said shutter actuatingmeans and positioned to enable each tooth to alternately drive said camand rotate it through a predetermined angle.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said biasing meansfurther comprises a threaded rod surrounded by a spring which bearsagainst a nut positioned upon said threaded rod.

1. In a camera exposure control system for sequentially exposing first and second areas of a photosensitive medium, a system which eliminates double exposure thereof comprising; a. an imaging platen; b. a first lens system for exposing a first area of said photosensitive medium; c. a second lens system separate from said first lens system for exposing a second area of said photosensitive medium; d. an elongated, noncircular movable masking member for covering said first lens system in a first lens covering position and said second lens system in a second lens covering position; e. shutter means coacting with said first and second lens systems for exposing said photosensitive medium; f. shutter actuating means for actuating said shutter means; g. masking member positioning means for positioning said masking member in lens covering positions remote from said imaging platen and being coupled to said shutter actuating means for shifting the position of said movable masking member from one lens system to another lens system upon the actuation of said shutter actuating means to prevent double exposure of exposed areas of said photosensitive medium; h. means for supporting said masking member positioning means at a location upon said camera position remotely from said first and second lens systems to provide for easy access to said masking member positioning means; i. said masking member positioning means further including a cam follower coupled to said movable masking member, a cam for actuating said cam follower and a cam driver coupled to said shutter actuating means for actuating said cam upon actuation of said shutter actuating means; and j. means for mechanically biasing said cam follower against said cam, said cam further comprising a plurality of elongated members separated from each other which are positioned transversely to the direction of motion of said cam and which drive said masking member via said cam follower between said first and second lens covering positions upon the actuation of said shutter actuating means.
 2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cam driver includes an elongated member having a plurality of teeth thereon which drive said elongated members and hence said cam throUgh a given angle each time said shutter actuating means is actuated.
 3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 further including means for positioning said movable masking member in non-coacting relation with both of said lens systems and for decoupling said masking member positioning means from said shutter actuating means.
 4. In a camera exposure control system for sequentially exposing first and second areas of a photosensitive medium, a system which eliminates double exposures thereof comprising: a camera frame; a first lens system for exposing a first area of said photosensitive medium; a second lens system for exposing a second area of said photosensitive medium; a shutter device coacting with said first and second lens systems for exposing said photosensitive medium; shutter actuating means for actuating said shutter; a movable masking member for selectively covering one of said lens systems at a time, a cam, a cam follower, means for coupling said movable masking member to said cam follower; biasing means for mechanically biasing said cam follower against said cam, first coupling means for pivotally coupling one end of said biasing means to said camera and second coupling means for pivotally coupling the other end of said biasing means to said cam follower; and a cam driver for rotating said cam upon the actuation of said shutter actuating means.
 5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further including means for adjusting the position of said cam driver with respect to said shutter actuating means coupled thereto.
 6. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for coupling said movable masking member to said cam follower includes a rotatable shaft having a positioning knob coupled thereto for facilitating the manual positioning of said movable masking member.
 7. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first coupling means comprises a post rotatably mounted to said camera frame, said post having a hole therein for slideably accommodating one end of said biasing means to enable said biasing means to shift its position with respect to said post as said cam follower shifts its position.
 8. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cam driver includes a toothed member pivotably coupled to said shutter actuating means and positioned to enable each tooth to alternately drive said cam and rotate it through a predetermined angle.
 9. The combination as set forth in claim 4 wherein said biasing means further comprises a threaded rod surrounded by a spring which bears against a nut positioned upon said threaded rod. 